The 50-year-old is faced with the predicament as the London side struggle with several injuries ahead of the club's first game back in the Premier League since the 2004-05 season.

And despite bringing in nine players during the close-season, Holloway may need to include unfit players when he names his 25-man squad next month, with striker Glenn Murray a long-term casualty with a knee ligament problem. 

"I can't see us having enough players to fill a 25 man squad as things stand at the moment - I may have to include Paddy (McCarthy) and Glenn (Murray) in it," he said.

"I need some strength to go in with our current crop of players. We are paper thin with injuries and need players in.

"Jerome Thomas has an ankle injury will be out for two weeks and Yannick Bolasie will be out for some time with a hamstring injury.

"I have got Neil Alexander in as cover because Lewis Price is injured and I would have had to put a young keeper on the bench this week."

Neil Alexander, the 35-year-old goalkeeper, linked up with Palace on Thursday on a one-year deal and will offer competition to Julian Speroni.